Greetings, All -- It is very pleasant to watch the robust growth of our corps of followers. It is very satisfactory assuming that it enters into its geometric growth phase before long. Whether or not that ever happens, we are confident that our followers are excellent in all respects and are closely matched by our visitors.
The amount of scientific, engineering, construction, production and financial activity in the field of interest that we call "The New Energetics" is growing at a staggering rate. Over the holidays, we read an article appearing in Physics Today. David Kramer's piece on shale gas extraction highlights issues facing the industry. [http://www.physicstoday.org/resource/1/phtoad/v64/i7/p23_s1?bypassSSO=1] The immense potential of shale gas raises the ante in terms of cash, national security and employment growth arising from its major risk factors. The penetration of shale gas potential in the world of economics, finance and politics is highlighted in Dr. Benny Prosser's "Shale Gas Revolution Turns the Tables on Oil Powers." [http://www.canadafreepress.com/index.php/article/43701]
David Kramer states that the U.S. Department of Energy estimates shale and other deposits contain gas to satisfy domestic demand for 110 years! By now, everyone has seen the video portraying kitchen tap water flaming when ignited, presumably a result of a shale fracking operation in the area. Kramer quotes a gas industry official denying responsibility. Major problems arising from the disposal of huge volumes of contaminated fluids are vexing industry and residents alike. Because the petroleum industry largely departed Pennsylvania decades ago, there are few "disposal wells" into which such waste materials can be injected. Several companies are now constructing major pipelines to bring fresh water to the shale fields and remove waste water to suitable disposal facilities.
Injecting waste water deep into the earth sounds like a good idea absent earthquakes. Earthquakes? Yes, indeed. We recall seeing an article some thirty or forty years ago in which heavy rainy seasons in Central America were correlated with seismic activity. Perhaps we are confirming something here. Arkansas has experienced quakes that are attributed by some to water injection. This is now being studied. Some authorities have suggested that the recent Virginia quake that twisted our house into a pretzel, but without damage, arose from injection into West Virginia fields. The latest event was in Ohio. [http://spectrum.ieee.org/energywise/energy/fossil-fuels/ohio-natural-gas-activity-halted-after-40-earthquake/?utm_source=techalert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=010512] We await with interest the results of geological and seismological studies of the events.
Some folks mourning the death of innovation in America seem to be a tad premature. America is now giving the world a new lease on Freedom -- Freedom from threats to cut energy lifelines or to beggar the buyer community. The Persians are waving their missiles and naval vessels about the Straits of Hormuz and the Russians are picking the pockets of the Poles, Germans and others with confiscatory natural gas pricing policy. U.S. natural gas is priced at one third the European price! Furthermore, we do not threaten customers with frostbite, a hammer now held over the Ukraine.
Best wishes, Billy Hawkfinder
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